Rehabilitation and Recidivism Trends among Youth Offenders in Nigeria’s Correctional Facilities: a Narrative Review

Youth offending remains a major challenge within Nigeria’s justice system, shaped by socio-economic deprivation, inadequate access to education, and systemic institutional weaknesses. This study conducts a narrative literature review of peer-reviewed research, policy documents, and international reports to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation practices for youth offenders in Nigeria and to identify the barriers that undermine reform. The findings reveal a persistent gap between progressive juvenile justice policies and their practical implementation. Correctional facilities are chronically overcrowded and under-resourced, with rehabilitation programmes often limited in scope and quality, resulting in restricted access to vocational training, psychological counselling, and formal education. Consequently, recidivism rates among young offenders are estimated to range between 60 and 80 per cent within three years of release. Structural drivers of this cycle include poverty, unemployment, social stigma, and the absence of structured reintegration mechanisms. Social Learning Theory provides an explanatory lens, highlighting how custodial environments can reinforce deviant behaviour through exposure to negative peer influences. The study concludes that meaningful progress requires comprehensive reform, including strengthened institutional capacity, individualised and evidence-based rehabilitation programmes, and structured post-release support. These measures are essential to improving rehabilitation outcomes, reducing reoffending, and advancing the broader goals of community safety and social development in Nigeria.